Brazilians celebrate nine-day festival honoring St. Benedict in Pará

Brazilians in Braganca, in the northern state of Para, celebrate the Marujada, a traditional nine-day festival honoring Saint Benedict (Sao Benedito), known as the "black saint." The festivities include a massive street procession and the Cavalhada, a competition where horsemen attempt to thread wooden arrows through suspended rings.

Recognized as a cultural heritage of Brazil, the Marujada reaches one of its highlights on Christmas Day. The tradition of the Cavalhada dates back to the Portuguese colonization, which brought from regions of strong Moorish influence from Portugal and Spain and took over this region of the Amazon.